The Florida Supreme Court today radically altered historic precedent when it ruled that criminal defendants exercising their State and Federal Constitutional rights of due process and against self-incrimination can be punished with higher sentences, citing their “lack of remorse.”
Representative Michael Gottlieb (D- Davie), a criminal defense attorney with over twenty-five years of experience, issued the following statement:
“As an American, today’s ruling by the Florida Supreme Court is shocking to the conscience. While I understand the need to solve crimes in order to provide closure to the victims, our justice system is predicated on upholding our constitutional rights and the idea that everyone is entitled to a fair trial.
“The idea that someone asserting their 5th Amendment constitutional right could then be used as a cudgel to intimidate them to testify or risk an enhanced sentence goes against the very protections our Constitution is meant to uphold. This ruling is an affront to the very basis of our entire constitutional system and the values we hold sacrosanct as American citizens.”
